On September 12-13, NASA’s Johnson Space Center participated in the 33rd annual Japan Festival held at Hermann Park in Houston. The center has been an exhibitor at this cultural event for the past four years.
The NASA booth featured information on the Artemis III mission, its crew, and plans for a lunar base. Visitors viewed models of the Orion spacecraft and the International Space Station, while also interacting with space food samples and authentic astronaut gear.
During the two-day event, NASA staff engaged with over 3,000 attendees. Software engineer Brendan King noted that high school students expressed significant interest in pursuing future careers at the agency.
The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) also hosted a booth, showcasing a model of the HTV-X1 cargo spacecraft and images of a pressurized lunar rover. Astronaut Akihiko Hoshide participated in the event by signing autographs and meeting the public.
The placement of the NASA and JAXA booths highlighted their ongoing partnership. This collaboration includes the Kibo laboratory on the International Space Station, the Artemis Accords, and the joint development of lunar surface hardware.
